Volunteers are the HEART of Heartland Hospice! We are looking for pet/handler teams in Rockford/Winnebago County to enrich the lives of our hospice patients by providing companionship and meaningful interactions between animal and patient. Service hours are flexible and scheduled according to your availability and location. If you have a friendly canine that has a lot of love to give and spreads joy wherever she/he goes, this is the opportunity for you! If your dog is currently certified as a therapy animal through an approved, reputable organization, you can immediately apply to become a Heartland Hospice volunteer. If your dog is not certified as a therapy animal yet we will happily assist you with this process.

Once your pet is certified, you will be trained to become a Heartland Hospice volunteer. Qualifications of Pet Visit Volunteers: must be 18 years or older; agree to a background/reference check; and attend an orientation to learn more about the philosophy of hospice and our company, the role of the volunteer, and communicating with hospice patients and their families. Volunteer hours are flexible and opportunities are scheduled according to personality/needs of patient and volunteer, location, and availability. Please contact Heartland Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Janine at (815)397-3691, or janine.idstein@hcr-manorcare.com for more information about this opportunity.